Volume 1 Chapter 12

  Zhou Pozi's eyes grew brighter as she listened, her pupils fixed intently on the paper-wrapped melon seeds. She had only eaten one earlier, which didn't satisfy her craving at all.

  However, she also knew that it's easy to get along with people who are willing to listen and help, but difficult to deal with those who are not. She rubbed her hands nervously on her apron and said, "I don't know what the second young lady wants me to do for her?" If this was about doing something unpleasant, and Madam found out later, she would be in big trouble.

  Lu Weng opened the paper package and handed it over, then took out a few more silver coins and smiled: "Don't worry, Mother Zhou. The young lady just asked me to ask you something, she won't let you have any trouble. This silver and two packages of melon seeds are our young lady's little token of appreciation."

  Old Mrs. Zhou's face lit up with joy, and she smiled fawningly, "So that's how it is! Don't worry about this, I, old Mrs. Zhou, will definitely keep everything confidential."

  Green Weeds smiled and stuffed silver and melon seeds into Zhou Po's arms. "I knew you were a reasonable person, Mother Zhou."

  "After that, she approached Zhou Pozi and whispered, 'Madam doesn't know why she has always refused to see our mistress. According to what we know, our mistress hasn't done anything to displease Madam either. This inexplicable behavior makes one feel very curious. Miss thinks the reason might be with Madam herself. Zhou Mama, you have been in the mansion for a long time, do you know if there was any special incident involving Madam's generation?'"

  Zhou Pozi clutched the two packages of melon seeds in her arms, and secretly weighed the silver, which was at least five taels. Just as she was smiling with her eyes narrowed, she heard Lv Wei's words and couldn't help but furrow her brow in thought.

  Won't you see Auntie Water? Something special? What's so special about this old lady?

  Suddenly, a burst of inspiration struck, and Old Lady Zhou slapped her thigh "I remember now!"

  "What did you think of?"

  Zhou Pozi slightly lowered her head and said mysteriously, "In the past when Old Madame was still young, there was a year when Old Master went out on business for several months. When he returned, he brought back a beautiful woman, saying he wanted to take her as his concubine. After Old Madame sent someone to investigate, she found out that Old Master had taken a liking to this woman just a few days after arriving at his destination and had been served by her during those months in the outside province. The only thing missing was giving her an official title. That woman entered the manor and Old Master formally took her as his concubine, and all the servants called her Liu Niangniang."

  Lu Weng felt dizzy and asked in confusion, "What does this have to do with our mistress?"

  Zhou Pozi continued, "Think about it, when Master wanted to bring in Shui Niangniang back then, wasn't the situation similar to this Liu Niangniang?"

  Lv Wei thought for a moment, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, it's very similar. When Master went to Yixing City for his post, he took in a concubine there, and she followed him for more than half a year before being brought back to the manor just before New Year's, intending to formally take her as a concubine. But unexpectedly, she was opposed by Old Madam and Madame Li."

  "Good, that's right. You don't know, do you? That year, Liu Niang was quite formidable, and she completely captivated the old master, getting pregnant soon after and giving birth to a boy. The old master was overjoyed, and from then on, he doted on Liu Niang even more, elevating her status to almost equal that of the old mistress. She even persuaded the old master to consider making her his concubine, but the old mistress would never agree, getting so angry she fell ill for several days. From then on, she hated Liu Niang with a passion. Alas, it's a pity Liu Niang ultimately couldn't outdo the old mistress in the end... Ah, beauty is indeed fleeting."

  Lu Weng suddenly realized after listening from the side, it turned out that there was such a reason.

  At this time, Xia Ting was gnawing on a piece of fruit while listening to Lv Wei's account of her return. After hearing it, she put down the toothpick in her hand and said, "So, Madam was opposed to my mother entering the house earlier because she feared another Lü Jiāng would appear. It was also because she hated Lü Jiāng so much that she didn't even bother with my mother."

  Lu Wenyi nodded beside her. Xia Ting helplessly pursed her lips, it was indeed a case of once bitten by a snake, for ten years fearing the rope used to draw water from a well.

  Wan Yu stood at the side and said, "Miss, since that's the case, shouldn't we think of a way to change Old Madam's impression of the madam?"

  Xia Ting shook her head, "This old lady has been resentful of Aunt Liu for so long, it's already become a knot in her heart. It can't be easily resolved. Besides, my mother didn't do anything wrong, it's just that the old lady is being unreasonable. There's no need to do something that won't achieve anything good, I don't get along with her either."

  At a glance, Mrs. Xia was known to be a self-interested and vain person who only recognized benefits. What's the point of having such a grandmother? Was she waiting to be sold out by her?

  The horse carriage was moving happily on the morning street with a "clip-clop, clip-clop" sound. Xia Ting was sitting comfortably in the carriage at this moment, leaning against the soft cushion and dozing off.

  Because of the unpleasant experience of riding a carriage last time, before going out, she had someone try to install several springs on the carriage, hoping to reduce the vibration.

  It seems to be quite effective now, and the carriage is running very smoothly. This road is no longer as bumpy as it was when I came to Kyoto before.

  In the carriage, a small tea table was set up with some fruit and snacks. Wan Yu sat beside it, smiling as she peeled melon seeds for her young mistress, asking "Miss, is it alright that we sneak out like this? What if we get in trouble with Madame Li when we get back?"

  Xia Ting opened her eyes slightly, watching as Wan Yuling skillfully and deftly peeled the melon skin, taking out the seeds inside. Before long, those plump white seeds were piled up in a small mound on the plate, inexplicably lifting her mood. "No problem, we only went out this time for something important, even if she wants to make things difficult, she won't be able to find anything wrong."

  These past few days happened to coincide with Madame Shui's menstrual period, and she was feeling quite unwell. Even after I made her some brown sugar water to drink, there was no improvement.

  After Xia Ting's pulse diagnosis for Shui Shi, she found that she had a slight gynecological problem and personally prescribed a prescription. She originally wanted to hand it over to Wan Yu and let her go get the medicine. But thinking twice, after all, this is Kyoto, under the emperor's feet, and they are new here. After thinking about it, I didn't feel at ease, so there was the matter of the master and servant going out together.

  If she returns to the mansion and is questioned by Mrs. Li, she will frankly tell her that she went out of the mansion to fetch medicine for her ailing mother, which is her filial duty as a daughter, and Mrs. Li would not be able to find any fault with that.

  Besides, in the past few days, Li has been taking her two daughters to attend banquets and socialize with the ladies of various aristocratic families. She rarely stays at home. Whether or not she has time to bother with you is another matter altogether.

  But this is also good, Li's absence from the mansion has given Xia Tingying great convenience, and now she can go out to deal with shop matters much more easily than before.

  Late Jade nodded to show understanding, and the melon seeds in her hand were just peeled clean. She swept the melon shells on the table while saying, "Miss, we need to fry some more melon seeds soon. The ones fried earlier are almost gone, only this much is left on the table. The madam and young master have none to eat."

  Xia Ting stood up straight and looked at her with a puzzled expression, "I remember we bought two big bags just this year, how can they be finished so quickly?"

  Apart from inquiring about the news from Aunt Zhou a few days ago and sending her two packages, my mother and younger brother didn't eat much every day, there's no reason why they would finish it so quickly.

  Wan Yu pursed her lips, discontentedly muttering, "It's all because of Master. Bi Tan told the servant that since Master tasted this melon seed at Madame's place last time, he has been fond of it. Not only does he eat it himself, but also brought some out to entertain guests when colleagues came to our house the other day. Who wouldn't like such a fresh snack? Master even took charge and gave each guest a package to take back. He also sent some to several high-ranking officials, sending this and that, and the two bags of melon seeds were used up in no time. I only discovered there was so little left when I went to Madame's place today."

  Xia Ting's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched her father, who was using her things to curry favor with others everywhere. He was indeed good at socializing.

  Forget it for now, we'll settle this score with him eventually.

  "Miss, it's Huichuntang up ahead." The voice of the coachman came from outside the carriage.

  Digression

  Everyone thinks that JJ wrote it well, these two days I haven't been feeling too good, so updated a bit late.